lawton



Feb. 7, 1956 R. A. LAWTON 2,733,686

FOUNTAIN PEN Filed Feb. 28, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 7, 1956 R. A. LAWTON FOUNTAIN PEN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 28, 1952 470 fizz/222%)? 2,733,686 FOUNTAIN PEN Ray Alfred Lawton, Milton Junction, Wis., assignor to The Parker Pen Company, Janesville, Wis., 21 corporation of Wisconsin Application February 28, 1952, Serial No. 273,855

7 Claims. (Cl. 120-50) The present invention relates to capillary pens and has to do particularly with a capillary pen having a novel feed for delivering ink from the reservoir to the writing nib.

An object of the invention is the provision of a novel capillary pen of the foregoing general character.

Another object is the provision in a capillary pen of novel capillary feed means for feeding ink from the reservoir to the writing point.

Still another object is to provide a capillary pen having a capillary reservoir element and a writing element, and a novel feed bar having a recess for receiving a portion of the reservoir and a novel capillary passage arrangement for filling the reservoir element and feeding ink from the reservoir element to the writing element.

A further object is the provision of a capillary 'pen having capillary means containing capillary passages of relatively large capacity for filling theink reservoir with ink when brought into contact with an ink supply, and in which portions of the same passages conduct the ink from the ink reservoir to the writing nib when the pen is used in a writing operation.

A still further object is the provision of a capillary pen having a writing nib and a capillary ink reservoir, which includes capillary means having passages therein of relatively large capacity effective for filling the reservoir rapidly, and capable of feeding ink from the reservoir to the writing nib in such quantities as to insure a writing condition of the nib as long as a supply of ink remains in the reservoir.

Other objects will be apparent upon reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the forward portion of a pen body showing the ink reservoir and feed bar in elevation and a portion of the writing nib broken away;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, longitudinal sectional view of a lesser portion of the forward end of the pen showing all the elements in section;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an exploded view showing the feed bar and nib in plan;

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified form of the invention, the ink reservoir being shown in elevation;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6; and a Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8--8 of Fig. 6.

The fountain pen as above noted is of the capillary type, having a capillary ink reservoir adapted to filled by capillary action when the proper element of the pen is exposed to a supply of ink. The pen is adapted to be filled by insertingthe forward end of the pen in a supply of ink so that the capillary passages in the pen pronitecl States Patent 0 vided for the purpose are in communication with the supply of ink whereby thv ink is lifted by capillary action into the ink reservoir in the pen.

The pen body may be of the type ordinarily used in connection with desk sets, having a long tapered rear portion or it may be in the shape of a pocket pen having a short length and adapted to be accompanied by a removable cap for alternately covering the writing tip end or the rearward end.

The pen body or barrel 12 in the present instance may be composed of any suitable material such as metal or plastic of such nature as to be inert to the action of writing inks. The pen body 12 is provided with a bore 13 in its forward portion including a reservoir section 14 at its rear end and a feed section 15 forwardly thereof, the bore being adapted for receiving a capillary ink reservoir 16, a writing nib 18 and a feed bar 20. The pen body is also provided with a vent 22 adjacent the rear Ward end of the bore 13 for enabling the passage of air therethrough in the filling and writing out operations. The bore 13 is preferably cylindrical throughout the major portion of its length and a counterbore 24 is formed adjacent its forward end for providing a capillary space 25 around a portion of the outer surface of the writing nib 18. The pen body has an inclined forward end surface, forming a similarly inclined opening of the bore andv a forward hood-like portion 26. The inclined shape of the forward end of the pen body enables the pen to be held at a convenient writing angle in which the Writing point of the nib is enabled to rest on the writing surface without interference from the underlying portions of the pen.

The capillary ink reservoir 16, sometimes known as an ink storage element, may also be referred to as a reservoir and feed element because of its functions in storing ink therein and feeding ink to the writing nib. For convenience the element will be referred to herein as a reservoir. The reservoir may be any one of a number of suitable types, but I have found that the pen is especially effective when provided with a reservoir of the type disclosed and claimed in Patent No. 2,522,555, is-

. sued September 19, 1950, to Floyd E. Bartell, to which reference may be had for complete details of construction thereof.

Briefly, the ink reservoir is made up of a sheet of metal or plastic rolled into a spiral, forming a continuous, spiral capillary space which is in eifect a plurality of radially spaced ink storage spaces. It is desirable that means be provided for spacing the convolutions of the roll apart, and it is also desirable that apertures be provided in the convolutions for forming passages interconnecting adjacent ink storage spaces. The reservoir disclosed and claimed in the above Bartell patent embodies the above noted features and is formed by first providing apertures in the sheet before it is rolled by an operation, as by puncturing, that forms irregular legs or portions that extend substantially perpendicular to the sheet. When the sheet is rolled, the irregular legs or portions form projections for spacing the convolutions apart and the apertures provide communication between adjacent radially spaced ink storage spaces. As illus trated herein, the convolutions, or wall elements, 28 are spaced apart by the projections 34 providing capillary ink storage spaces 30 of the desired capillary dimension, and the apertures 32, which are of capillary dimensions, provide communication between; adjacent spaces. The preferred construction of the reservoir 16 includes a reservoir proper 35 and a feed portion 36 formed as a core of the reservoir extending forwardly centrally thereofas disclosed in the copending application of Floyd E.

Bartell, Serial No. 186,415, filed September 23, 1950,- now Patent Number 2,648,309. The feed portion 36 may be integral with or separate from the remainder of the reservoir. The feed section 36 also serves as an ink storage space, in conjunction with the reservoir proper 35. The reservoir proper 35 is of such diameter or outer dimension as to fit snugly in the bore 13,. substantially filling the reservoir section 14 thereof, and the feed portion 16 extends into the feed section 15 for direct cooperation with the feed bar 20.

The apertures or openings 32 not only establish capillary communication between adjacent spaces. 30, but also from the outer space through the outermost wall element to the exterior thereof, the latter feature being pertinent in connection with the feed portion 36, as will be apparent later in connection with the capillary filling of the pen and feeding of ink from the reservoir to the nib. It is also to be noted that the reservoir has open ends and particularly that its forward end is open, whereby the spaces 30 open forwardly, the effectiveness of which will be brought out in connection with the filling and writing out actions.

The writing nib 18 (Fig. includes a rearward body portion 33 of generally tubular shape, preferably discontinuous circumferentially as indicated at 40, enabling slight expansion and contraction of the body and is provided with a rearwardly extending tongue 42 for extension into a recess of the feed bar, as will be described later, for retaining the nib in proper angularly adjusted position. the usual fashion, having the customary pierce 44 and slit 46 forming nib sections, the forward end portions of both of which form a writing point 48. The nib and particularly the tubular body portion thereof is of such diameter as to snugly engage the surface of the bore 13 in the feed section thereof.

The hollow feed bar 20, which is preferably made of a suitable plastic, has a central portion 50 substantially cylindrical in shape, at the rear end of which is a radial flange 52 having a radial dimension substantially equal to the thickness of the wall of the nib, and having a recess 54 complementary in size and shape to the tongue 42 on the nib for receiving the latter when the feed bar and nib are properly assembled. The engagement between the recess 54 and tongue 42 retains the nib in proper angular position relative to the feed bar when these parts are assembled. The diameter of the flange 52 is such as to engage the surface of the bore 13 with a friction fit, and the cylindrical portion 50 is of such dimension as to snugly engage the inner surface of the nib and retain the outer surface of the nib in friction engagement with the surface of the bore 13, the elements being such The forward portion of the nib is tapered in 1 extends at its central portion slightly beyond the open 7 end of the bore. When the feed bar and associated elements are assembled in the pen body the writingpoint 48 of the nib extends forwardly beyond the forwardmost point of the feed bar as well as the hood-like. portion 26 of the pen body. The inclined disposition of the forward surface of the pen body and feed bar enables the pen to be held at a comfortable inclined. angle in a writing operation wherein the writing point of the nib will engage the writing surface and the adjacent underlying portions of the feed. bar and pen body will be clear of the writing surface.

The feed bar 20 is provided with a rearwardly opening bore 58, substantially cylindrical in shape for receiving the feed portion 36 of the reservoir 16.. Prefen ably the bore 58 is, of proper dimension to accommodate the. entire. feed portion 36 so that its rearward endengages the forward end of the reservoir proper (Fig.

2). The dimensions of the various elements are such that when the reservoir 16 and the feed bar 20 are assembled and inserted in the boie 13, and the rearward end of the reservoir abuts the inner end of the bore, the forward end of the feed bar is properly positioned with respect to the forward end of the pen (Figs. 1 and 2). Furthermore, the writing nib 18 is so dimensioned relatively to the feed bar that when the rearward end of the nib abuts the flange 52 the writing point 48 is properly positioned relatively to both the pen body and the feed bar.

The invention includes a novel feature enabling insertion of the feed portion 36 into the feed bar with facility and without danger of buckling or otherwise damaging the feed portion, such as may result without such novel feature because of the relatively fragile character of the feed portion.

The sheet of material making up the reservoir 16 is quite thin so as to provide maximum total capillary space in the element. Accordingly the convolutions or wall elements of the sheet may be subject to deflection or buckling when the feed portion 36 is inserted in the bore 58, it being understood that the fit in the bore is intended to be snug. This difficulty is eliminated by virtue of the novel feature mentioned. The feed bar 20' is provided with an opening 60 communicating with the bore 58 adjacent the forward end of the bore and preferably having a portion extending into the forward projection of the bore. This opening extends laterally through the side of the feed bar. In the assembly of the feed bar and reservoir a hook or other draw element may be connected to the feed portion 36, extended forwardly into the bore 58 and out through the opening 60. By drawing on the hook the feed portion 36 may be pulled into the bore without danger of buckling the feed portion as might be the case if the latter were pushed into the bore. The opening 60 may be positioned for example adjacent the lower portion of the feed bar relative to the assembled pen so as to be relatively inconspicuous.

The feed bar 20 is provided with a novel capillary passage arrangement effective for rapidly filling the pen when the pen is inserted in a supply of ink and for feeding the ink in the reservoir to the writing nib in a writing operation. Such capillary passage arrangement consists of a plurality of, for example three, deep slits62 of capillary width, which will be discussed first in connection with the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5. The slits or passages 62 are plane-like in formation, being for example about .005 in width, and of substantial dimension longitudinally and transversely of the pen, the transverse dimension as used herein being the depth of the slits. The slits may be parallel as herein shown, and they open out through the top side of the feed bar (relative to the assembled pen) so as to be. in capillary feeding relation with the slight, capillary spacebetween the pen nib and the feed: bar and thereby with the nib slit. The slits or passages 62 extend from the forward end of the feed bar rearwardly, communicating with the bore 58, and have portions 64 extending rearwardly from the forward end of the bore along the upper side of the feed bar, terminating a substantial distance rearwardly of the forward end of the bore. The slits therefore are in capillary ink feeding relation with the space under the nib throughout their longitudinal dimension, and the forward portions of the slits extend across the forward end of the feed portion 36 preferably to at least the center of the latter and in the present instance beyond the center (Fig. 3) so that the slits have communication with the spaces 30 in the reservoir and particularly those in the feed portion 36 throughout a substantial portion of the spaces. The spaces, it will be recalled, communicate with one another through the apertures 32 and in the case where the reservoir is of spiral conformation, the spaces 30 are actually one continuous spiral space, so that the slits 62 have communication with all portions of the spaces 30. Thus, because of the fact that the slits 62 aytssyese extend a substantial distance across the front end of the feed portion 36, large capacity for capillary feed is established. The slits or passages 62 also open out through the forward end of the feed bar throughout their full transverse dimension. The portions 64 of the slits in addition to having capillary feeding relation with the space between the feed bar and nib, also have capillary feeding relation with the feed portion 36 of the reservoir. The latter capillary feed relation is established partially by direct communication between the portions 64 of the slits and apertures 32, and partially through the capillary space between the feed portion 36 and the surface of the bore 58 which surrounds the feed portion. Thus ink can be drawn by capillary action in either direction between the portions 64 of the slits and the apertures 32 through the capillary space surrounding the feed portion.

When the pen is inserted in a supply of ink, either by inserting its forward end in a body of ink, or in a desk set base where capillary feed relation is established between a capillary element in the base and the forward end of the feed bar 20, ink is brought into capillary feeding relation with the forward open ends of the slits 62. The ink then is drawn by capillary action through the slits 62 throughout their depth or transverse dimension, and in one course is drawn into the forward open ends of the spaces 30 in the feed' portion 36. It is also believed that a portion of the ink is drawn, in another course, into and through the portions 64 of the slits and then into the space between the feed portion and the surface of the surrounding bore, and through the apertures 32 in the feed portion. "In consequence, the capillary slits or passages 62 provide a large capacity for rapid filling of the pen. It will be understood that once the ink enters into the feed portion 36 it is drawn by capillary action into and fills the reservoir proper 35 throughout the length and breadth of the latter as fully brought out in the Bartell patent referred to above.

In the writing operation, ink in the slits or passages 62 is drawn by capillary action to the capillary space between the nib and feed bar, throughout the longitudinal extent of the slits. The ink in such space is drawn to the pierce 44 and slit 46 in the nib. The ink also may pass directly from one of the slits 62 to the pierce and slit in the nib when there is such a slit 62 in register therewith as is preferable and disclosed herein. In all events, ink passes by capillary action through the pierce and slit of the nib into the space 24 which partially surrounds the nib, the ink in the latter sp'ace'aiding in maintaining the nib in wetted condition and preventing'it from drying out, and for immediately supplying ink to the nibso that the pen will write immediately even after having been unused for a considerable period of time.

As the ink in the slits or passages62 feeds to the nib as above described, additional ink is supplied by capillary action to the slits, through at least a portion of the openings in the forward end of the feed portion 38, and through the apertures 32 in the feed portion to the portions 64 of the slits, such action continuing during the writing operation and until the supply of ink is exhausted. Because of the large capacity of the slits 62 and the large area capillary feed relation between the slits and the reservoir, ample feeding of ink from the reservoir to the nib is assured at all times. The feed of the ink to the writing nib is essentially the reverse of that above described in connection with the filling of the pen except that ink does not of course feed or flow out through the forward ends 1 of the slits. There is at least a portion of the slits 62 acting in common with the filling action and feeding action to the nib.

In the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 6-8 the penbody 12, reservoir 16 and nib 18 may be identical with the corresponding elements of the embodiment described above. However, in the present instance the feed her 66 is provided with a slot 68 of substantial width (Figs. 7 and 8) and preferably of greater width than the overall width of the three slits or passages 70 which are similar to the slits 62 described above. In the present instance the slits 70 open into the slot 68 as well as into the bore 72 which is similar to and for a like purpose as the bore 58. The slot 68 preferably extends from a point adjacent the forward end of the feed bar forwardly of the bore 72, and preferably opens into the bore 72 as well as through the rearward end of the feed bar. Because the slot 68 opens through the rearward end of the feed bar as shown herein, it also communicates with the spaces 30 in the reservoir proper 35 since the forward end of the latter abuts against the rearward end of the feed bar. The transverse dimension or depth of the slits or passages 70 is substantially equivalent to that of the slits 62 so that they extend a similar distance across the forward end of the feed portion 36, the slits also opening through the side of the feed bar in capillary ink feeding relation with the space between the feed bar 66 and nib 18 throughout their length as defined between the forward end of the slot 68 and the forward end of the feed bar.

For enhancing the capillary feed of ink in the filling operation and in the writing out operation, the slot 68 is provided with an insert feed element 74 which may be of any of a number of forms. For example, it may be composed of absorbent wicking, but I have found that satisfactory results are obtained by utilizing an insert feed element similar in construction to that disclosed and claimed in the Bartell application above referred to, to which reference may be had for complete details of construction. Briefly the feed element 74 may be made up of a sheet of the same material from which the reservoir 16 is formed. The sheet is folded alternately in opposite directions in accordion pleated fashion along parallel lines spaced across the sheet. The sheet is provided with apertures along the fold lines which ultimately are positioned in the folded feed element in-the bends between adjacent folded portions. Such apertures 76 and 77 may be seen in Fig. 6. The folded portions form between themselves capillary spaces 78 of minor transverse dimension which extend longitudinally throughout the length of the element. The spaces are wedge-shape in cross section extending the greater part of the depth of the slot, less that portion occupied by the folds or creases. The spaces. even at their greatest width are nevertheless of capillary dimension. I

The feed element 74 is preferably of such outer dimensions as to completely fill the slot 68 in all directions, normally expanding in one direction to fill the slot in that direction. The element at its lower portion preferably engages the bottom surface of the slot 68, andengages or at least is in capillary feed relation with the feed portion 36, whereby ink from the feed portion 36 passes into the spaces 78 through such apertures 76 as are necessary, and then flows by capillary action to the nib through such apertures 77 as are necessary. The rearward end of the feed element 74 may engage the forward end of the reser voir proper 35 of the reservoir 16 for establishing' capfllary feeding relation between the spaces in the two elements. The feed element 74 at its forward end has capillary feeding relation with the slits or passages 70 at both its lower portion and its end, establishing large feed capacity at those positions.

The feed element 74, as will be evident from the foregoing, possesses a great capacity for capillary feed of ink and enhances the filling operation as well as the feeding out action in the writing operation.

In the case of the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 6-8 the tongue 80 on the nib corresponding to the tongue 42 above referred to may be as wide as the slot 68 so as to correspond with. the recess in the flange 82, corresponding to the recess 54, which would be formed by and be as wide as the slot 68.

Breferably the walls of the slits 62 (and 70) in the feed bar of the present invention are formed to provide a high degree of wettability by inks of the character with which the pen is to be used. While the feed bar may be formed of any suitable material it may conveniently be formed of a suitable plastic. Since plastics ordinarily are not highly wettable by liquid inks, the feed bar preferably is treated to make the slit walls more wettable. To this end, I prefer to coat the walls of the slits 62 and 70 with silver which may be accomplished by a suitable known process. While only the slits need be coated, it will ordinarily be commercially more practical to coat the entire surface of the feed bar.

I claim:

1. A fountain pen comprising a pen body having a reservoir section and a feed section forwardly of the reservoir section, a reservoir element in said reservoir section with a reduced feed portion extending into said feed section having forwardly opening capillary passages therein, a writing element in said feed section, and a feed bar in said feed section having a rearwardly opening recess, said feed portion extending into said recess and abutting the forward end wall thereof, said feed bar having a capillary filling and feed passage therein in capillary ink feeding relation with the forwardly opening passages in said portion throughout a substantial portion of the end of the latter and with said writing element, and opening through the forward end of said feed bar to the exterior of the pen.

2. A fountain pen comprising a pen body having a forwardly opening bore in its forward end, the bore including a reservoir section and a feed section forwardly of the reservoir section, a capillary reservoir element in the reservoir section having longitudinally and circumferentially extending capillary ink storage spaces communicating with one another and opening through the forward end surface of the element, a writing element in said feed section, and a feed element in said feed section underlying said writing element and having a wall element engaging the forward end surface of said reservoir element and also having a plurality of plane-like capillary passages extending longitudinally thereof through said Wall element and extending a substantial distance across the forward end of the reservoir element in direct communication with said ink storage spaces therein, said capillary passages having capillary ink feeding relation throughout their longitudinal dimension with said writing element and opening throughout their transverse dimension through the forward end of the feed element to the exterior of the pen.

3. A fountain pen comprising a pen body having a forwardly opening bore in its forward end, the bore including a rear reservoir section and a feed section forwardly of the reservoir section, a reservoir element in the reservoir section having radially spaced wall elements defining longitudinally and circumferentially extending. capill'ary ink storage spaces opening through the forward end of the element, the wall elements having capillary openings establishing communication between the spaces and side capillary openings from the outermost space to the exterior, a writing element in said feed section, and a feed element in said feed section having plane-like capillary passages extending longitudinally thereof and extending a substantial distance across the forwardv end of the reservoir element in direct communication with ink storage spaces therein and extending rearwardly of the forward end of the reservoir element throughout at least a portion of the length of the latter in communication with at least certain of said side openings, the capillary passages having capillary ink feeding relation throughout their longitudinal dimension with said writing element and opening throughout their transverse dimension through the. forward end of the feed element to the exterior of the pen.

4. A fountain pen comprising a pen body having a forwardly opening substantially cylindrical bore defining a reservoir section and. a feed section forwardly thereof, a reservoir element. in said reservoir section substantially filling the section and a reduced dimension, central feed portion extending into said feed section, said reservoir element having wall elements defining circumferentially and longitudinally extending capillary ink storage spaces, and the wall elements having capillary openings interconnecting adjacent spaces, the ink storage spaces in said feed portion opening through the forward end surface of the feed portion, a writing nib in. said feed section having a tubular body portion. and a tapered writing tip extending forwardly of the pen body, with the tubular body frictionally fitted in said feed section, and a hollow feed bar having a rearwardly opening recess, said feed portion of said reservoir element extending into said recess and abutting the forward end wall thereof, said feed bar being friction'ally fitted in the tubular body of the writing nib and having a plurality of plane-like transversely and longitudinally extending capillary passages opening through said forward end wall and extending across a substantial portion of the forward end surface of said feed portion in direct communication with ink storage spaces therein and having capillary ink feeding relation with said writing element throughout a substantial portion of their longitudinal extent and opening through the forward end of the feedbar throughout their transverse extent to the exterior of the pen.

5. A. fountain pen comprising a pen body having an upper and a lower side with respect to a writing position and having a reservoir section and a feed section, a capillary reservoir element in said reservoir section with a cylindrical feed portion having deflectable elements extending forwardly into said feed section, a writing element in said feed section, and a feed bar in said feed section having a bore with a forwardend wall and opening rearwardly snugly receiving. said feed portion, said pen body and feed bar together having a generally upwardly and forwardly inclined forward end, said feed bar havingcapillary passages in capillary ink feeding relation with said feed portion and extending upwardly into ink feeding relation with said writing element, and the feed bar having a laterally opening, relatively large hookreceiving aperture in its lower side below said passages adjacent. the rear end of the inclined portion communicating with the bore therein adjacent the forward end thereof and having a portion forwardly of and within the longitudinal projection of the bore and opening through said forward end walk 6.. The invention set forthv in claim 4 wherein the feed portion has capillary openings in its peripheral surface, the feed bar has a laterally disposed longitudinal slot communicating with said passages and with said recess, and a capillary insert is disposed in said slot defining a plurality of. longitudinal passages in capillary ink feeding relation with at least certain: of the ink storage spaces opening through the. forward end of said reservoir element, and with at least: certain of said openings in the peripheral surface of the feed portion throughout a substantial portion of the insert, and in capillary ink feeding relation with said writing element throughout its own length, and in capillary ink feeding relation with said plane-like passages.

7. The invention set forth in claim 6 wherein said insert consists of an accordion-folded sheet and the longitudinal passages therein are defined by adjacent folds.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS awn-a 

